A585

A585
Road	A585
Country	England
Route	585
Direction a	West
Terminus a	Fleetwood
Direction b	East
Terminus b	Blackpool
Counties	Lancashire

A585

The A585 is a primary road in Lancashire linking coastal and inland settlements between Fleetwood and the vicinity of Little Singleton via Poulton-le-Fylde, Kirkham, and connections towards Preston and Blackpool. It forms part of regional transport corridors used by commuters, freight, and tourism traffic accessing Morecambe Bay, Fylde Coast attractions, and industrial sites such as the Fleetwood docks and nearby commercial estates. The route intersects key trunk roads and railheads serving Lancaster, Garstang, and Lancaster University hinterlands, influencing development and travel patterns in the northern part of Fylde.

Route

The A585 begins at a junction near Fleetwood docks, proceeding southeast through suburban and industrial zones adjacent to the estuarine margins of Wyre Estuary and the outskirts of Thornton-Cleveleys. It continues past Poulton-le-Fylde where it intersects with roads to St Annes-on-the-Sea and Lytham St Annes, before reaching the Windy Harbour approaches and skirting agricultural land towards Kirkham. East of Kirkham the route meets primary corridors providing access to Preston and Blackpool and terminates near connections feeding the M55 motorway and arterial routes toward Manchester and Blackburn. Along its length the A585 provides access to local rail stations including Fleetwood railway station and interchange points serving services to Preston (railway station) and Blackpool North.

History

Origins of the A585 trace to turnpike and coastal trading roads linking Fleetwood—established in the 19th century by figures associated with Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood—to market towns such as Poulton-le-Fylde and Kirkham. During the 20th century the alignment was upgraded to carry increasing motor traffic associated with growth at Fleetwood docks, the expansion of Blackpool as a seaside resort, and wartime logistical needs tied to nearby installations including those related to RAF}} operations and naval provisioning. Post-war planning and the rise of motor freight led to phased improvements, junction realignments near Skippool and bypass proposals influenced by county-level transport strategies adopted by Lancashire County Council and regional planning bodies.

Major Junctions and Interchanges

Key nodes on the A585 include its western terminus at Fleetwood docks and harbour approaches, the junction with the A587 providing routes to Poulton-le-Fylde and Blackpool, and the roundabout complex serving traffic to Thornton-Cleveleys and industrial estates. Further east the road meets the A586 and A584 corridors that link to Blackpool North and Lytham St Annes, while junctions near Kirkham provide access to the A6 and onward connections to Preston and Garstang. Interchanges proximate to the M55 enable strategic links to M6 motorway and long-distance routes toward Manchester and Liverpool, affecting freight routing to ports including Heysham.

Traffic and Safety

Traffic volumes on the A585 fluctuate seasonally with peaks during summer tourism to Blackpool and events at venues such as Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Winter Gardens. Freight movements to and from Fleetwood docks and adjacent industrial estates add heavy goods vehicle flows, particularly during weekday periods. Recorded collision clusters have prompted scrutiny at junctions near Skippool and the approaches to Poulton-le-Fylde, with local authorities and road safety partnerships—working with Lancashire Constabulary and national agencies—identifying contributory factors including mixed commuter, tourist, and HGV interactions, limited sightlines at older roundabouts, and peak-hour congestion.

Improvements and Proposals

Improvement schemes implemented and proposed over recent decades include carriageway widening, junction signalisation, and construction of bypasses to reduce through-traffic in town centres such as Poulton-le-Fylde and Kirkham. Major programmes funded or coordinated by Lancashire County Council and national highways bodies have targeted persistent bottlenecks and artisan industrial access, with specific projects involving realignment at the Windy Harbour corridor and upgraded roundabouts to improve capacity and journey time reliability toward the M55. Future proposals have been subject to public consultation and environmental appraisal, with stakeholders including Wyre Borough Council, conservation organisations concerned with estuarine habitats at the Wyre Estuary and statutory consultees advising on impacts to landscape and heritage assets.

Public Transport and Cycling Facilities

The A585 corridor supports local bus services connecting Fleetwood, Poulton-le-Fylde, Kirkham, and links to Preston and Blackpool timetabled by regional operators serving stops near retail hubs and transport interchanges. Park-and-ride and rail interchange planning, coordinated with Northern Trains and local transport authorities, aim to shift commuter trips from car to public transport. Cycling provision varies along the route: dedicated cycle lanes and shared-use paths exist in town centres like Poulton-le-Fylde and on leisure stretches near Wyre Way, while rural sections rely on quieter lanes promoted by cycling groups and advocates such as Sustrans for safe active travel, with ongoing campaigns to extend protected routes and improved signage.

Category:Roads in Lancashire